Promoting Recovery and Resiliency
On behalf of the Berwyn Development Corporation (BDC) and the City of Berwyn, Ryan Consultants drafted the Berwyn Economic Recovery Plan (January 2024). This plan seeks to understand the current economic priorities and identify the key opportunities of the Berwyn community, given the drastic changes to its economy in recent years.
Background and Methodology
In September of 2022, the BDC was awarded the Research in Illinois to Spur Economic Recovery (RISE) Grant. This grant program was established by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to address the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and encourage growth and recovery.
Since the grant award was announced, Ryan Consultants interviewed industry leaders in Berwyn, conducted a bilingual community survey, and held 3 community strategic planning meetings. Throughout this process, 5 key themes were identified: Infrastructure & Community Cleanliness, Community Engagement, Economic Development, Housing, and Video Gaming & Smoke Shops.
The finalized plan was accepted by the Berwyn City Council as informational on Tuesday, January 23, 2024.
